Drain valve for washing machines and the like



Aug.'14, 1945. L. M. HARVEY DRIAIN VALVE FOR WASHING MACHINES AND THELIKE Filed Sept. 16, 1941 M E (9, WW g w 5 M g Q Patented Aug. 14, 1945UNITED STATES' PATENT OFFICE DRAIN VALVE FOR WASHING MACHINES AND THELIKE Leo M. Harvey, La Canada, Calif. Application September 16, 1941,Serial No. 411,051

6 Qlaims. (Cl. 13721) This invention has reference to valves and hasparticular reference to drain valves for commercial washing machines andthe like. A genera] object of this invention is to provide a simple,practical and very effective drain valve of this nature.

This application is a continuation in part of application for LettersPatent of the United States, Serial No. 352,582, filed August 14, 1940,now Patent No. 2,323,993, granted July 13, 1943.

In operating commercial Washing machines it is the general practice tochange the washing fluids several times in washing each batch of theclothes or materials. A drain opening is provided in the bottom of thewashing shell and this opening is controlled by a drain valve. The valveusually opens upwardly or inwardly and difliculty is often encounteredin opening the valve against the weight of the liquid and the wetmaterials in the shell. Further, small articles such as buttons, pins,etc., often interfere with the complete closing of the drain valve withthe result that the washin liquids leak out during the cyclic washingoperations.

An object of the present invention is to provide a commercial washingmachine embodying a positively operated remotely controlled dump valve.The valve of the present invention will readily open irrespective of theweight of the materials in the washing shell.

Another object of this invention is to provide a dump valve forcommercial washing machines which is self-balancing and self-equalizingto make a perfect seal under practically all conditions of operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a dump valve of thecharacter referred to which is fluid pressure operated utilizing waterpressure, or the like, for the operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a dump valve of thecharacter referred to embodying a novel cylinder and piston operatingmeans which provides for or permits even seating of the valve closureunder all condition of operation.

'A further object of this invention is to provide a drain valve. of thecharacter mentioned embodying a simple, yet very effective anddependable remotely controlled electrically energized pilot valve orcontrol valve for the fluid pressure employed in operating the dumpvalve.

The various objects and features of my invene tion will be readilyunderstood from the following detailed description of. typical preferredforms and applications of my invention, throughout which descriptionreference is made to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical detailed sectional view through the cylinder andshell elements of a commercial washing machine showing the dump valve ofthe present invention in the closed position and illustrating the dumpvalve pilot or control. Fig. 2 is an enlarged Vertical detailedsectional view of the dump valve in the closed position, being a viewtaken as indicated by line 2-2 on Fig. l, and Fig. 3 is a fragmentarysectional view of another form of control valve that may be embodied inthe invention.

While the valve of the present invention is adapted for numerousapplications it is primarily intended for use on commercial washingmachines. Accordingly, in the drawing I-have illustrated the valvemechanism associated with one form of commercial washing machines. It isto be understood that the invention is not to be construed as limited orrestricted to the specific form or application of the invention hereindescribed and illustrated but is to be taken as including any featuresor modifications that may fall within the scope of the claims.

The portion of the commercial washing machine illustrated includes a.pair of spaced generally horizontal frame members 20 forming parts ofthe washing machine supporting the frame. A stationary cylindrical shellH is supported on the washing machine frame and contains or houses arotatable or oscillatable perforated cylinder [2. The cylinder I2 issupported for tuming on its longitudinal axis by end trunnions 51.

Perforations 14 are spaced throughout the side wall of the cylinder l2to admit the water, washing mixtures, etc. The shell II has an openingnormally closed by a sliding door and the cylinder l2 has a similaropening 82 adapted to register with the opening in the shell andnormally closed by a door 83. The door 83 is controlled by a selectedlatch 9|. The clothes or goods to be washed are introduced and removedthrough the opening in the shell II and the opening 82 in the cylinder12 when the doors 45 and 83 are open and the cylinder 12 is stopped; Thecylinder I2 is rotated or oscillated by a. power means and drive, .notknown, and tumbling rib or lifting ribs 16 are provided, on the interiorof the cyltroduced into the shell II at selected intervals and theseliquids are drained away at the end of each stage of the washingoperation. The outlet opening or drain opening I48 is provided in thebottom or lower wall of the shell II.

The improved drain valve of the present invention is indicated generallyby the numeral I5 and may be said to comprise, generally, a support-'ing frame I46, a valve member I5I supported in the frame I46 to sealtherein, and remotely controlled cylinder and piston means for operatingthe valve member I5I.

The supporting member or frame I46 is arranged below or at the underside of the shell I I at the opening I48. The upper portion of the frameI46 is shaped to conform to the shell II around the opening I46 and maybe securedto the shell by bolts I49 as illustrated. The frame I46 may bebolted or otherwise fixed to the spaced members 20 of the washingmachine frame. The upper wall of the supporting frame I46 has a centralopening I41 which communicates with the opening I48 of the shell. Theopening I41 may be somewhat smaller than the opening I48 and the underside of the frame I46 at the opening I41 is flat and horizontal to carrya seat ring I50. Screws I52 secure the seat ring I50 to the frame I46.

The valve member I5I is arranged within or below the frame I46 and isadapted to seal upwardly or move upwardly to close the opening I41 andthus close the bottom of the shell I I. The valve member I5I is agenerally disc shaped member somewhat larger in diameter than theopening I41 and having a rounded or convex upper surface. Means isprovided on the upper side of the valve member I5I for cooperating withthe seat ring I50. An annular recess I53 is formed in the upper side ofthe valve member I5I adjacent its'periphery to carry a sealing ring I54.The sealing ring I54 may be formed of a yielding resilient sealingmaterial such as rubber, synthetic rubber, rubber composition, or thelike. Thesealing ring I54 is of substantial thickness and isproportioned and positioned to have extensive engagement with the seatring I80.

The means for supporting the valve member I 5| for operation is afeature of the invention. In

accordance with the invention the valve member I8I is supported andoperated so that it is selfequalizing and capable of making a tight sealwith the frame I46 even though small articles,

such as buttons, pins, etc., may be trapped be-' tween the seat ring I50and the sealing ring I54. The under side of the valve member I5I isequipped with a downwardly projecting centrally located boss or hubhaving a downwardly directed socket I55. The socket I55 is cylindricaland of substantial depth. The upper wall of the socket I55, is concaveand partially spherical. The means fol-supporting and operating thevalve member Il further includes a cylinder I56 which extends upwardlyinto the socketI55. The cylinder I56 is round or annular in transversecross section and that portion of the cylinder which enters the socketI55 has an'upwardly tapered or convergent external surface. The partsare proportioned so that the lowermost wall part of the socket I55 maycooperate with or rather accurately engage about the tapering cylinderI56 while the remaining portions of the socket side walls are clear ofthe tapering cylinder I56.

A free working ball and socket engagement is provided between the valvemember I5I and the supporting cylinder I56 to allow the valve member torock, tilt or incline to a limited extent so aasasas that it mayaccurately conform to and engage its seat. The upper end surface I51 ofthe cylinder I56 is convex and partially spherical to seat or bear inthe upper wall of the socket I which is of complementary configuration.The convex upper end I51 of the cylinder I58 cooperates with the concaveend wall of the socket I55 to support the valve member I5I for limitedrocking or universal tilting. This movement of the valve member I5I onthe cylinder I58 is limited by the engagement of the walls of the socketI55 with the tapering surface of the cylinder I58, the initial clearancebetween'the socket wall and the cylinder surface being sufficient topermit the desired play and movement of the valve member I5I.

The dump valve I5 of the present invention is fluid pressure operatedand remotely controlled. The means for operating the drain valve or dumpvalve I5 includes a transverse web I58 formed on or secured to thesupporting frame I46 and extending transversely below. the cylinder I58.In the construction illustrated the web I58 is integral with the frameI46. A ram I59 is secured to the web I58 by screws I60, or the like, andprojects upwardly to enter the cylinder I56. The upper portion of theram I56 is reduced in diameter to present an upwardly facing annularshoulder against which bears an upwardly directed cup leather I6I. Apiston element I62 surrounds the reduced upper portion of the ram I59and clamps the cup leather I6I in position against its shoulder. A nutor ring I83 is threaded on a reduced stem part of the ram I58 to holdthe piston element I62 in position. A central longitudinal port I64extends through the ram I59 from the web I56 to the interior of thecylinder I56.

Electrically operated valve means is provided to control the delivery offluid under pressure to the cylinder I56 to operate the dump valve l5.This electrically operated valve means may be positioned at any selectedpoint remote from the valve I5 and in most instances would be sup- 2ported on the washing machine frame, not shown. some distance away fromthe dump valve I5. The

. control means for the valve I5 includes a pipe I carrying fluid underpressure, say water under pressure, and a discharge pipe I68. The remotepilot valve or control valve governs the pipes I85 and I68 and includesa valve body I81 connected between the pipes to have communicationtherewith. A pressure line I88 extends from the valve body I61 to theweb I58 where it communicates with the port I64. The-pipe I88 and theport I64 put the interior of the valve body I81 in communication withthe interior of the cylinder I56. A spring urged valve I10 controls thedelivery of fluid under pressure from the pipe I85 into the valve bodyI61. A similar but opposed spring urged valve I1I controls communicationbetween the interior of the valve member I81 and the outlet pipe I66.The valves I10 and I 1| have opposing axially aligned stems I12.

The pilot valve or remote control valve further includes a lever I15 foroperating the valves I10 and I". 'The lever I1! is pivoted in the valve'body I81 and. engages between the ends of the opposing valve stems I12.The engagement of The lever I15 has two positions, one where it holdsthe valve I10 open as illustrated in Fig, 1, and one where it holds thevalve "I open.

The control lever I18 may be operated in any selected manner, In thepreferredlconstruction illustrated electromagnetic means is provided foroperating the lever I13 between its two posi- I tions. Theelectromagnetic means includes an armature I15 plvotally and slacklyconnected with the lever I13 and a solenoid coil I14 for the armature.When the coil I14 is deenergized or in its normal condition the leverI13 assumes the position illustrated where it holds the valve I10 open.Under these conditions fluid under pressure from the line I65 isdelivered to the cylinder I56 to hold the valve member I5I in itsclosedposition. When the coil I14 is energized the lever I13 is pivoted sothat the valve I10 closes and the valve In opens. This operation allowsthe fluid under pressure to bleed from the cylinder I56 and gravityaided by the weight of the mathe valve II downwardly to the openposition so -that the liquid may drain from the cylinder.

It is believed that the operation of the improved drain valve or dumpvalve of the present invention will be readily understood from theforegoing detailed description. When the cylinder I2 is in operation thesolenoid I 14 remains deenergized so that the lever I13 is in theposition illustrated in Fig. 1 holding the valve I open and allowing thevalve I1I to remain closed. With the valve I10 open and the valve "Iclosed the interior of the cylinder I56 is inicommunication with thepressure pipe I65 and the fluid under pressure in the cylinder holds thevalve member I5I in its closed position. The sealing ring I54 is held intight sealing cooperation with the seat ring I50 by the action of thefluid pressure. When the shell I I is to be drained the circuit to thesolenoid I54 is completed. In this connection it is to be understoodthat the circuit of the coil I14 may extend to any selected point orstation for ready manual control or for control by an automatic timermeans or both. Energization of the coil I14 results in closing of thevalve I10 and opening of the valve I1I so that the pressure in thecylinder I56 is immediately relieved. This allows the valve member I5Ito move to the open position and the liquid contents of the shell I Irapidly drain out through the opening 41.

To reclose the dump valve I5 the circuit to the solenoid I14 is opened50 that the lever I13 returns to its normal position to open the valveI10 and to allow the valve I1I to close. This puts the interior of thecylinder I56 in communication with the pressure pipe I65 and the valvemember I 5I is closed by the fluid pressure acting between .the ram I59and the cylinder I56; In.

closing, the valve member I5I is free to equalize itself on the seatring I50 and may tilt or tip to a limited extent as may be required,Accordingly, the valve I5I may assume a good sealing position eventhough a small object such as a button, or the like, may be trappedbetween the seat ring I50 and the sealing ring I53. The bearing of thevalve member I5I on the partially spherical surface I51 permits thisself balancing or seating action of the valve member I 5|. The yieldablesealing ring I54 yields to small objects, such as a button or the like,caught between it and the seat ring I50 and the presence of such a smallobject will not prevent the valve from making a good tight seal.

Fig. 3 of the drawing illustrates a manually operable pilot valve orremote control valve which may be embodied in the invention. The valveillustrated in Fig. 3 may be employed in place ofor in substitution forthe electrically operated re.-

mote control valve describedvabove. The valve of Fig. 3 includes a body200 having spaced ports 20| and 202 and the fluid pressure supply anddischarge pipes I65 and I66 are respectively connected with these ports.The valve body 200 has suitable handle or lever 201 isprovided on anendof the core 205 to facilitate its operation or turning. The valve 200 isadapted to be arranged at a position where its operating handle or lever205 is conveniently accessible to the operator of the washing machine.It will be apparent how the operator may turn the lever 201 to bring thecore 205 to the position illustrated where its port 206 connects thepressure supply port 20I with the line I68 to close the valve member I5Iand to hold the valve member closed. When the valve member I5I is to beopened the lever 201 is moved to the position where the port 206connects the line I68 and port 203 with the discharge pipe I66. Thisallows the pressure to bleed out of the cylinder I56 and the valve I5Iopens as above described.

Having described only typical preferred forms and applications of myinvention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specificdetails herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself' any variationsor modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art or fallwithin the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A valve for the outlet opening of a container comprising a seataround the opening, a valve closure for moving into and out ofcooperation with the seat, the closure having a central projectionhaving an opening forming a socket with a concave end wall, a cylinderreceived in the socket and having a tapered exterior extending into saidprojection and having a convex end cooperating with said end wall, thecylinder forming the sole means to guide and operate the closure so thatthe closure may rock and tip to conform to the seat. a stationary pistonreceived in the cylinder and forming a support therefor, and means forsupplying fluid pressure to the cylinder to operate and control theclosure.

2. A structure of the character described comprising, a valve seat, aclosure adapted to seal upwardly against the seat, the under side of theclosure having an longate vertical'socket, and a fluid pressure actuatedmechanism for operating the closure includinga movable cylinder engagingin the socket to tiltably support and operate the closure, the side wallof the socket being engageable with the cylinder to limit tilting of theclosure, a, stationary ram on which the cylinder operates, the ramextending to a point within said socket and having an openingcommunicating with the interior of the cylinder, and means for supplyingfluid pressure to the op ning and cylinder. 3. Valve means forcontrolling a fluid opening including a seat around the opening, aclosure for moving into and out of cooperation with the seat. theclosure having an elongate socket provided with a concave end wall and aside wall, and

means for guiding and operating the closure comsaid socket to guide andoperate the closure, the cylinder having a convex end face cooperatinawith said end wall of the socket to support theclosure for tiltingmovement on the cylinder, the

side wall of the socket and the side surface of the cylinder divergingtoward the closure to provide freedom of tilting movement of the closureon the cylinderso that the closure may correctly conform to the seat.

4. Valve means for controlling a fluid opening including a downwardlyfacing seat around the pe a support below the opening, anupstandingstationary piston on the support concentric with the sea-t, a cylindermovable verticaliy on the piston to be guided thereby, a closure formoving into and out of engagement with the seat, the under side of theclosure having a central elongate projection with a socket whichreceives the cylinder, the top of the cylinder and the upper wall of thesocket having spherically curved cooperating surfaces to provide foruniversal tilting movement of the closure so that the closure mayreadily conform to the seat, the side surface of the cylinder serving toguide the closure from the cylinder and being upwardly convergent toallow for said tilting movement of the closure, and means for supplyingfluid under pressure to the cylinder to operate the closure.

5; Valve means for controlling the fluid discharge opening of acontainer including a seat around the opening, a stationary supportlocated below the seat, a closure for cooperating with the seat, adepending tubular wall on the closure. an upstanding stationary pistoncarried by the support and extending to a point within said wall, amovable cylinder telescoping down over the piston and telescopingupwardly into said wall, the under side of the closure and the upper endof the cylinder having cooperating spherically curved surfaces so thatthe closure is supported by the cylinder for free tilting movement, theexternal surface of the cylinder being upwardly convergent so that theclosure may have limited universal tilting movement, and controllablemeans for supplying fluid under pressure to operate the closure.

6. In a valve of the character described; three telescoping elements,one a closure having a central cylindrical socket, one a fixed pistonprojecting into the socket with substantial clearance and the other acylinder located between the other two elements so that it slidably fitsthe piston and had a guiding fit in the socket, and means for supplyingfluid under pressure into the cylinder beyond the piston so the cylinderis moved to operate the closure.

LEO M. HARVEY.

